The Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) has welcomed a week-long crackdown on illegal mobile phone use across the country, which got underway yesterday (22 January).

A similar operation in July 2017 saw more than 8,000 drivers stopped and 2,595 offences detected.

The NPCC says early indications suggest that the new tougher penalties introduced in March 2017 are having an impact, with around 11% fewer drivers stopped in the three months post-legislation than in the preceding three months.

Chief constable Anthony Bangham, NPCC lead for roads policing, said:

“Nearly a year on from legislation to toughen the sanctions for using a phone at the wheel, we are seeing some change in driver behaviour but there are still too many people underestimating the risk they take.

“If you glance at a phone for even 2.3 seconds while driving at 30mph you miss 100ft of road. That is the equivalent to the length of Boeing 737.

“If you do use your phone at the wheel, don’t be surprised to be stopped by police and to receive a fine and points on your licence.”